May 22, 2017
3D printing for entire buildings or for components in construction projects

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was recently signed between AECOM, an infrastructure firm and construction 3D printing organization Yingchuang Building Technique (Shanghai) Co Ltd, also known as Winsun. This agreement allows AECOM and Winsun to pursue opportunities together for the next three years in order to deliver the benefits of 3D printing of buildings and their components to clients around the globe.
3D printing is an additive manufacturing technique that has been used for several years to produce small objects less than one meter across. In recent years, the scale of objects that can be printed has increased to encompass a wider range of applications, including in the aerospace and automotive sectors. At the largest scale yet, 3D printing for entire buildings or for components in construction projects is emerging as a potentially disruptive technology in the construction industry. The potential benefits of 3D printing for construction project include, reduced error as the design and fabrication are part of an integrated digital process and decreased waste generated on site.
AECOM and Winsun are already seeing potential collaborative project opportunities for clients in the Middle East and expect to find many others geographies where the technology can help overcome particular local challenges. Developing regions in Asia and Africa are expected to account for most of the world's new urbanization in the coming decades, for example, China's Belt and Road Initiative is projected to generate new infrastructure opportunities where this technology can be utilized.